Time-switch circuit

ABSTRACT

A time-switch circuit for use in a primary time switch (PTSW), a secondary time switch (STSW), and a space switch (SSW) of a digital time-division switching system is disclosed. The time switch comprises a plurality of memory circuits (MUC 11  to MUC 15 , MUC 21  to MUC 25 ). Each memory circuit comprises a memory unit (MEM), an address buffer (AB) for a first address, an m-ary counter (T-CTR) for a second address, an address selector (AS) for selecting either the first or second address, an input data buffer (IB), and an output data buffer (OB). In a write cycle, input data from the input data buffer is written into the memory unit by either the first or second address signal, and in a read cycle, output data is read out of the memory unit by either the second or first address. Selection of the first and second addresses is performed by the address selector, which is controlled by an address-selection mode switch circuit (M 0 ). Further, the write enable mode of the memory unit is controlled by a write mode switch circuit (M 1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital time-division switching system. More particularly, it relates to the improvement of each memory portion of time switches and a space switch of a three-stage (Time-Space-Time) time-division switching system.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A digital time-division switching system broadly uses Time-Space-Time switches, i.e., primary time switches, a space switch, and secondary time switches. Each of the primary time switches comprises a primary speech path memory, a hold memory, and a time slot counter. In this case, speech signals, each carrying 8 parallel bits, are written into the primary speech path memory upon receipt of addresses read out of the hold memory and are read from the primary speech path memory into the space switch upon receipt of addresses generated by the time slot counter. That is, the primary speech path memory adopts a random write operation and a sequential read operation. Similarly, each of the secondary time switches comprises a secondary speech path memory, a hold memory, and a time slot counter. In this case, the speech signals transmitted from the space switch are written into the secondary speech path memory upon receipt of addresses generated by the time slot counter and are read from the secondary speech path upon receipt of addresses read out of the hold memory. That is, the secondary speech path memory adopts a sequential write operation and a random read operation.

On the other hand, the space switch, which is interposed between the primary time switches and the secondary time switches, comprises gate switches for connecting one of the primary time switches to one of the secondary time switches and further comprises hold memories for controlling the gate switches.

In the above-mentioned prior art, however, although circuits such as the speech memories and the hold memories have a similar configuration, each circuit is constructed by combining general-purpose memory unit elements and general-purpose logic integrated circuits, which complicates the design and manufacture of a digital time-division switching system, thereby increasing the cost thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital time-division switching system which is easy to design and manufacture, thereby reducing the cost.

According to the present invention, the speech memories and the hold memories are constructed by arranging connections on only one kind of circuit. This kind of circuit can be constructed easily with a one-chip large-scale integrated (LSI) semiconductor device, thereby enabling the size of each memory to be reduced and, accordingly, enabling the size of the entire system to be reduced.

The present invention will be more clearly understood from the description set forth below, in which the present invention is contrased with the prior art and reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B is a block diagram of a general digital time-division switching system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art primary time switch;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a prior art secondary time switch;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a prior art space switch;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the memory portion, according to the present invention, which is used in the time switches and the hold memories;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a primary time switch utilizing the switch of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a secondary time switch utilizing the switch of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a space switch utilizing the switch of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 are block diagrams of second, third, and fourth embodiments, respectively, of the memory according to the present invention, which portion is used in the time switches and the hold memories;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a primary time switch utilizing the switch of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a secondary time switch utilizing the switch of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram to a space switch utilizing the switch of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, which is a general digital time-division switching system, IHW₁·1 through IHW₁·l, ---, IHW_(n)·1 through IHW_(n)·l designate input highways, SP₁ through SP_(n) designate serial-to-parallel conversion circuits, PTSW₁ through PTSW_(n) designate primary time switches, SSW designates a space switch, STSW₁ through STSW_(n) designate secondary time switches, PS₁ through PS_(n) designate parallel-to-serial conversion circuits, OHW₁·1 through OHW₁·n, ---, OHW_(n)·1 through OHW_(n)·l designate output highways, and CPR designates a call processor for controlling the entire system.

Speech signals, having 8 serial bits per time slot, are transported over the input highways IHW₁·1 through IHW₁·n. The serial 8-bit signals are converted by the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ into parallel 8-bit signals. As a result, each speech signal is transported over the eight parallel highways IHW_(p)·1 having one bit per time slot on the output side of the serial-to-parallel conversion circuits SP₁. In other words, if the multiplicity of each of the input highways IHW₁·1 through IHW₁·n is m/l, the multiplicity of each of the parallel highways IHW_(p)·1 is m.

The speech signals transported over the parallel highways IHW_(p)·1 through IHW_(p)·n are transmitted to the primary time switches PTSW₁ through PTSW_(n) so that the time slots of the speech signals are changed by the primary time switches PTSW₁ through PTSW_(n). Switching between the highways is performed by the space switch SSW. The speech signals are next transmitted to the secondary time switches STSW₁ through STSW_(n) and are then converted by the parallel-to-serial conversion circuits PS₁ through PS_(n) into serial 8-bit signals per time slot. Thus, a speech signal transported over one of the input highways IHW₁·1 through IHW₁·l, ---, IHW_(n)·1 through IHW_(n)·1 is transmitted to a predetermined time slot of a predetermined one of the output highways OHW₁·1 through 0HW₁·l, ---, OHW_(n)·1 through OHW_(n) so as to complete a switching operation. The digital time-division switching system, illustrated in FIG. 1, is called a three-stage Time-Space-Time (TST) configuration, a term which is broadly used.

A primary time switch such as PTSW₁ comprises a primary speech path memory SPM₁ and a hold memory HM₁. A speech signal is written from the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ into the primary speech path memory SPM₁ at every time slot by using an arbitrary address read out of the hold memory HM₁, and the written signal is read out upon the receipt of an address generated by a cyclic counter, i.e., a time slot counter, which is not shown in FIG. 1 but is shown in FIG. 2, thereby performing the conversion of a time slot containing a speech signal.

Similarly, a secondary time switch such as STSW₁ comprises a secondary speech path memory SPM₂ and a hold memory HM₂. In the TST configuration of FIG. 1, the secondary time switches STSW₁ through STSW_(n) operate in the same manner as the primary time switches PTSW₁ through PTSW_(n). That is, a speech signal is written from the space switch SSW into the secondary speech path memory SPM₂ at every time slot upon receipt of an address generated by the time slot counter, which is not shown in FIG. 1 but is shown in FIG. 3, and the written signal is read out upon receipt of an address read out of the hold memory HM₂, thereby performing the conversion of a time slot containing a speech signal.

Thus, the primary time switches PTSW₁ through PTSW_(n) perform random write operations and sequential read operations while the secondary time switches STSW₁ through STSW_(n) perform sequential write operations and random read operations.

The space switch SSW comprises a gate portion G including gate switches for connecting a primary speech path memory SPM₁ of a primary time switch such as PTSW₁ to a secondary speech path memory SPM₂ of a secondary time switch such as STSW₁. The space switch SSW further comprises speech path hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n for controlling the gate switches of the gate portion G. That is, in a particular time slot of the primary speech path memory SPM₁, the hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n generate signals, each of which indicate a gate switch to be turned on. When the indicated gate switch is turned on, a speech signal in the time slot of the speech path memory SPM₁ of a primary time switch such as PTSW₁ is transmitted via the turned-on gate switch to the secondary speech path memory SPM₂ of a secondary time switch such as STSW₁.

A primary time switch such as PTSW₁ is now explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, T-CTR₁ designates a time slot counter. If it is assumed that the multiplicity (the number of time slots in a frame) of each of the input highways IHW₁·1 through IHW₁·l is m/l, then the multiplicity of each of the parallel highways IHW₁·p is m. For example m=1024.

Eight (8) parallel bits per each time slot, transported over the eight parallel highways IHW_(p)·1, are transmitted 1 bit per one time slot to the primary speech path memory SPM₁.

The primary speech path memory SPM₁ comprises eight unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7 of 1×m bits. The time slot counter T-CTR₁, which is constructed with an m-ary counter generates address information, which is increased by 1 at every time slot. In this case, the address information is comprised of at least k bits, where k=log₂ m=log₂ 1024=10. On the other hand, the hold memory HM₁ also comprises k unit memories UM₂·0, ---, UM₂·(k-1) of 1×m bits for generating m different pieces of address information.

During a write cycle for writing parallel 8-bit data into a time slot of the primary speech path memory SPM₁, a write enable signal WE, which is generated by a call processor CPR, is "1". In this case, an address selector AS₁ selects the output of the hold memcry HM₁ while an address selector, AS₂ selects the output of the time slot counter T-CTR₁.

In the above-mentioned write cycle, the time slot counter T-CTR₁ generates address information corresponding to the abovementioned time slot and transmits it via the address selector AS₂ to the unit memories UM₂·0 through UM₂·(k-1). As a result, each of the unit memories UM₂·0 through UM₂·(k-1) generates address information as a write address WA and transmits it to the primary speech path memory SPM₁. That is, the write address WA is supplied via the address selector AS₁ to each of the unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7 so that the parallel 8 bit data on the parallel highways IHW_(p)·1 is written into an area of the unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7 indicated by the write address WA.

During a read cycle for reading parallel 8-bit data out of the primary speech path memory SPM₁, the write enable signal WE is "0". In this case, the address selector AS₁ selects the output of the time slot counter T-CTR₁. Therefore, the time slot counter T-CTR₁ generates address information as a read address RA corresponding to the above parallel 8-bit data and transmits it via the address selector AS₁ to the unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7 so that the parallel 8-bit data is read from the unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7, indicated by the read address RA, into the space switch SSW.

Thus, in the primary time switch PTSW₁, a speech signal from the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ is randomly written into the unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7 of the primary speech path memory SPM₁ indicated by the write address WA from the hold memory HM₁ while the written speech signal is sequentially read out of the unit memories UM₁·0 through UM₁·7 of the primary speech path memory SPM₁ indicated by the read address RA from the time slot counter T-CTR₁.

When a new speech path is provided, the address selector AS₂ selects address information AD from the call processor CPR, which, in this case, generates write address information ADD. As a result, the write address information ADD is written into the unit memories UM₂·0 through UM₂·(k-1) indicated by the address information AD.

A secondary time switch such as STSW₁ is now explained with reference to FIG. 3. The configuration of the secondary time switch STSW₁ of FIG. 3 is identical to the configuration of the primary time switch PTSW₁ of FIG. 2 except that the location of the two inputs of the address selector AS₁ is different. That is, in FIG. 3, the address selector AS₁ selects the output of a time slot counter T-CTR₂ as a write address WA during write cycle and selects the output of the hold memory HM₂ as a read address RA during a read cycle. Therefore, the primary time switch PTSW₁ performs random write operations and sequential read operations and the secondary time switch STSW₁ performs sequential write operations and random read operations.

The speech path hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n of the space switch SSW have the same configuration as the hold memories HM₁ and HM₂ of the primary time switch PTSW₁ and the secondary time switch STSW₂. The speech path hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n are now explained with reference to FIG. 4. The hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n are provided either for the respective highways HW₁ through HW_(n) or the respective highways HW₁ ' through HW_(n) '. The operation of a hold memory such as HM₃·1 is as follows. In a time slot, unit memories UM₃·0 through UM₃·(k-1) of the hold memory HM₃·1 generate address information indicated by a time slot counter T-CTR₃·1, which is constructed with an m-ary counter. The address information is transmitted to the gate portion G so as to indicate the turning on of a gate switch for connecting the highway HW₁ to one of the highways HW₁ ' through HW_(n) '. As a result, in the above time slot, a speech signal is transmitted from the highway HW₁ via the turned-on gate switch of the gate portion G to a selected highway, such as HW₁ '.

Note that the output of the time slot counter T-CTR₃·1 is used only within the hold memory HM₃·1. In addition, the number k' of unit memories such as UM₃·0 through UM₃·(k'-1) of 1×m bits per each hold memory is at least log₂ n, where n is the number of highways HW₁ through HW_(n), i.e., the number of primary time switches. Further, an address selector AS₃ selects the output of a time slot counter such as T-CTR₃·1 during a read cycle while it selects the output, i.e., address information AD, of the call processor CPR during a write cycle.

As is mentioned above, in the digital time-division switching system of FIG. 1, a large number of memory unit elements are used in the time switches and the space switch. In the prior art, the memory unit elements are constructed by combining general-purpose memory circuits and general-purpose logic circuits. Due to this combination, various kinds of memory circuits and logic circuits must be designed for respective memory unit elements, thereby complicating the design and manufacture of a digital time-division switching system and increasing the cost thereof.

As is mentioned above with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the speech path memories SPM₁ and SPM₂ and the hold memories HM₁, HM₂, and HM₃·1 through HM₃·n are constructed commonly with unit memories of 1×m bits and an address selector. However, the selecting operation of each address selector and the required capacity of each memory unit comprised of unit memories are different for each of the above-mentioned memories.

In the present invention, a memory circuit is provided for incorporating mode switch circuits for controlling the selecting operation of an address selector and other functions from the exterior. Accordingly, a memory circuit can be adapted for various kinds of memories, such as SPM₁, SPM₂, HM₁, HM₂, and HM₁·1 through HM₁·n. The difference in the required capacity between the memories can be compensated for by providing a memory circuit having a maximum capacity. The provision of such a memory circuit may result in redundancy, but the redundancy can be reduced by selecting the configuration of the digital time-division switching system.

In FIG. 5, which is a first embodiment of the present invention, AB designates an address buffer for receiving an address from a terminal TRA, T-CTR designates a time slot counter, i.e., an m-ary counter, AS designates an address selector for selecting one of the outputs of the address buffer AB and the time slot counter, T-CTR, MEM designates a memory unit of q words and m bits, IB designates an input data buffer connected to a terminal DI, OB designates an output data buffer connected to a terminal DO, M₀ designates an address selection mode switch circuit connected to a terminal TM₀ and to the address selector AS, and M₁ designates a write mode switch circuit connected to terminals TM₁, TCTL and the memory unit MEM. Note that although each of the terminals TRA, DI₁ and DO is illustrated in FIG. 5 by a single terminal, each of the terminals is actually a plurality of terminals constructed for a plurality of parallel data.

Since the memory unit MEM must have a maximum capacity for each memory, q must be larger than log₂ m and log₂ n, and, furthermore, any unit memories of each speech path memory or hold memory can be constructed with the memory unit MEM.

A data signal is transmitted from the terminal DI via the input data buffer IB to the memory unit MEM, and an address signal is transmitted from the address selector AS to the memory unit MEM. During a write cycle having a time slot in which the write enable signal WE is "1", the transmitted data signal is written into the memory unit MEM indicated by the address signal transmitted from the address selector AS.

The address selector AS can receive two kinds of address signals, i.e., an internal address signal from the time slot counter T-CTR for performing a count-up operation in sychronization with the time slots and an external address signal from the address buffer AB. The selecting operation mode of the address selector AS is controlled by the address selection mode switch circuit M₀.

The address selection mode switch circuit M₀ is now explained. If the data "0" is applied to the terminal TM₀, the circuit M₀ transmits a first control signal to the address selector AS. As a result, the address selector AS selects an external address signal, i.e., the output of the address buffer AB during a write cycle, and selects an internal address signal, i.e., the output of the time slot counter T-CTR during a read cycle. However, if the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₀, the circuit M₀ transmits a second control signal to the address selector AS. As a result, the address selector AS selects an internal address signal, i.e., the output of the time slot counter T-CTR during a write cycle, and selects an external address, signal, i.e., the output of the address buffer AB duirng a read cycle. That is, since the address selection mode switch circuit M₀ also receives a write/read cycle control signal (not shown) from a control circuit, for example, from the call processor CPR of FIG. 1, the circuit M.sub. 0 transmits the read/write cycle control signal as the first control signal to the address selector AS when the data "0" is applied to the terminal TM₀ and transmits the inverted signal of the read/write cycle control signal as the second control signal to the address selector AS when the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₀.

Note that the address selector AS can be constructed with two kinds of analog switches controlled by the output of the address selection mode switch circuit M₀. In this case, the two kinds of analog switches operate in an opposite manner.

The write mode switch circuit M₁ is now explained. If the data "0" is applied to the terminal TM₁, the circuit M₁ generates the write enable signal WE (="1) during a write cycle regardless of the data applied to the terminal TCTL. However, if the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₁, the circuit M₁ generates the write enable signal WE (="1") only if the data "1" is applied to the terminal M₁ during a write cycle. Note that the write mode switch circuit M₁ also receives a write/read cycle control signal (not shown).

The above-mentioned mode switch circuits M₀ and M₁ can be constructed with simple logic configurations.

In FIG. 5, if the data "0" is applied to both of the terminals TM₀ and TM₁, a data signal from the input data buffer IB is written into an area of the memory unit MEM indicated by an external address signal from the address buffer AB. In addition, the written data is read out of an area of the memory unit MEM indicated by an internal address signal from the time slot counter T-CTR and is transmitted via the output data buffer OB to the terminal DO. That is, a random write operation and a sequential read operation are performed in the memory unit MEM.

In FIG. 5, if the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₀ and the data "0" is applied to the terminal TM₁, the output of the address selection mode switch circuit M₀ is inverted. Therefore, a write operation is performed upon receipt of an internal address signal from the time slot counter T-CTR and a read operation is performed upon receipt of an external address signal from the address buffer AB. Thus, a sequential write operation and a random read operation are performed.

In FIG. 5, if the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₁, the circuit M₁ generates the write enable signal WE (="1") only if the data "1" is applied to the terminal TCTL. Therefore, in this case, if the data "0" is applied to the terminal TM₀, data from the input data buffer IB is written into an area of the memory unit MEM indicated by an external address signal from the address buffer AB. However, if the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₀, data from the input data buffer IB is written into an area of the memory unit MEM indicated by an internal address signal from the time slot counter T-CTR.

The primary time switch PTSW₁, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, is constructed from the circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5. The primary time switch DTSW₁ is explained with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, two memory circuits MUC₁₁ and MUC₁₂ of the same type as the memory circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5 are provided. That is, the memory circuit MUC₁₁ is used as the primary speech path memory SPM₁, and the memory circuit MUC₁₂ is used as the hold memory HM₁ including the time slot counter T-CTR₁ therein.

In the memory circuit MUC₁₁, the terminal DI receives the parallel 8-bit signal on the highways IHW_(p)·1, and the terminal DO is connected to the space switch SSW. In addition, the data "0" is applied to both of the terminals TM₀ and TM₁ so that the memory unit MEM (not shown) of the memory circuit MUC₁₁ performs a random write operation and a sequential read operation. In this case, although the data "0" is applied to the terminal TCTL, the data "1" may also be applied thereto. The terminal TRA for external addresses is connected to the terminal DO of the memory circuit MUC₁₂.

In the memory circuit MUC₁₂, the terminals TRA, TCTL, and DI are connected to the call processor CPR. That is, the terminal TRA receives address information AD and the terminal DI receives write address information ADD. In addition, the data "0" is applied to the terminal TM₀, and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₁ so that the memory unit MEM (not shown) of the circuit MUC₁₂ performs a sequential read operation upon the receipt of an internal address signal from the time slot counter T-CTR included in the memory circuit MUC₁₂. In addition, the memory circuit MUC₁₂ performs a write operation by using the address information AD at the terminal TRA and the write address information ADD at the terminal DI when the control signal at the terminal TCTL is "1". Thus, the call processor CPR sets a speech path at the primary time switch PTSW₁.

A speech signal transported over the highways IHW_(p)·1 is written into an area of the memory unit MEM of the memory circuit MUC₁₁ indicated by an address signal transmitted from the terminal DO of the memory circuit MUC₁₂ to the terminal TRA of the memory circuit MUC₁₁ during a write cycle. A written signal is read out of an area of the memory unit MEM of the memory circuit MUC₁₁ indicated by the output of the time slot counter T-CTR of the memory circuit MUC₁₁ into the terminal DO thereof during a read cycle. Thus, the primary time switch PTSW₁ for performing a random write operation and a sequential read operation is constructed.

The secondary time switch STSW₁, as is illustrated in FIG. 3, is also constructed from the circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5. The secondary time switch STSW₁ is now explained with reference to FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, two memory circuits MUC₁₃ and MUC₁₄ of the same type as the memory circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5 are provided. The memory circuit MUC₁₃ is used as the secondary speech path memory SPM₂, and the memory circuit MUC₁₄ is used as the hold memory HM₂ including the time slot counter T-CTR₂ therein. The memory circuits MUC₁₃ and MUC₁₄ correspond to the memory circuits MUC₁₁ and MUC₁₂, respectively, of FIG. 6 except that the data "1" is applied to the terminal TM₀ of the memory circuit MUC₁₃ so that a sequential write operation and a random read operation are performed in the memory unit MEM of the memory circuit MUC₁₃.

A speech signal, having 8 parallel bits, from the space switch SSW, is written into an area of the memory unit MEM of the memory circuit MUC₁₃ indicated by the output of the time slot counter T-CTR of the memory circuit MUC₁₃ during a write cycle. The wirtten signal is read out of an area of the memory unit MEM of the memory circuit MUC₁₂ indicated by an address signal transmitted from the terminal DO of the memory circuit MUC₁₄ to the terminal TRA of the memory circuit MUC₁₃ to the terminal DO thereof during a read cycle. Thus, the secondary time switch STSW₁ for performing a sequential write operation and a random read operation is constructed.

The hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n of the space switch SSW, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, are also constructed from the circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5. The hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n are explained with reference to FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, circuits MUC₁₅·1 through MUC₁₅·n of the same type as the memory circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5 are provided. The memory circuits MUC₁₅·1 through MUC₁₅·n are used as the hold memories HM₃·1 through HM₃·n, respectively, in FIG. 4. In addition the memory circuits MUC₁₅·1 through MUC₁₅·n incorporate the time slot counters T-CTR₃·1 through T-CTR₃·n, respectively.

Note that the connections of the memory circuits MUC₁₅·1 through MUC₁₅·n are similar to those of the memory circuits MUC₁₂ and MUC₁₄ of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. That is, in each of the memory circuits MUC₁₅·1 through MUC₁₅·n, "0" and "1" are applied to the terminals TM₀ and TM₁, respectively, and the terminals TRA, TCTL, and DI are connected to the call processor CPR. Therefore, the memory unit MEM (not shown) of a circuit such as MUC₁₅·1 performs a write operation upon receipt of the address information AD at the terminal TRA and the write address information ADD at the terminal DI when the control signal at the terminal TCTL is "1". In addition, the memory circuit MUC₁₅·1 performs a sequential read operation upon receipt of an internal address signal from the time slot counter T-CTR, included in the memory circuit MUC₁₅·1, so that read data is transmitted to the terminal DO to indicate a gate switch to be turned on. Thus, the call processor CPR sets a speech path for conversion between highways.

Thus, according to the present invention, the speech path memories SPM₁ and SPM₂ and the hold memories HM₁, HM₂, and HM₃·1 through HM₃·n can be constructed from the same kind of memory circuit. In addition, since this kind of memory circuit can easily be constructed from a one-chip LSI semiconductor device, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire digital time-division switching system, thereby increasing the speed of the system. And further, since a digital time-division switching system can be constructed from a plurality of one-chip LSIs of the same configuration, it is easy to design and manufacture the system.

In FIG. 9, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, a maintenance read mode switch circuit MR₁ connected to a terminal TMR is added to the circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5. In addition, the input data buffer IB of FIG. 5 connected to the terminal DI is replaced by an input/output data buffer IB' connected to a terminal DI'. The maintenance read mode switch circuit MR₁ does not operate when the data "0" is applied to the terminal TMR. However, when the data "1" is applied to the terminal TMR, read data is transmitted from the memory unit MEM via the read mode switch circuit MR₁ to the input/output data buffer IB' during a read cycle. As a result, since the input/output data buffer IB' is bidirectional, the read data is obtained at the terminal DI', thereby checking the data stored in the memory unit MEM. Thus, in the maintenance of the memory circuit MUC₂ of FIG. 9, the contents of the memory unit MEM can be detected without the incorporation of an additional terminal.

In FIG. 10, which is a third embodiment of the present invention, a parity bit generator PG, a parity bit check circuit PC connected to a terminal TPC, a maintenance read mode circuit MR₂, and a data check circuit CHK connected to a terminal TC are added to the circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5. Note that the maintenance read mode circuit MR₂ has the same function as the maintenance read mode switch circuit MR₁ of FIG. 9. However, the maintenance read mode circuit MR₂ has no terminal indicated from the outside, and, therefore, the maintenance read mode circuit MR₂ is always in a maintenance read mode.

In FIG. 10, data is transmitted from the terminal DI via the input data buffer IB to the memory unit MEM and, simultaneously, to the parity bit generator PG, which generates a parity check bit PB for the input data. The parity check bit PB is also transmitted to the memory unit MEM and is written into the same area of the memory unit MEM as the input data.

During a read cycle, the above data, as well as the parity check bit PB, is read out to the output data buffer OB, which transmits the data, without the parity check bit PB, to the terminal DO. Simultaneously, the data, as well as the parity check bit PB, is transmitted from the output data buffer OB to the data check circuit CHK, which performs a check operation. The result of checking is transmitted from the parity bit check circuit PC to the terminal TPC.

In order to check whether input data is correctly written into an indicated area of the memory unit MEM, the maintenance read mode circuit MR₂ and the data check circuit CHK operate. In this case, suitable data is applied to the terminals TM₀, TM₁, and TCTL. During a write cycle, test data from the terminal DI is written into an area of the memory unit MEM indicated by an address transmitted from the terminal TRA. Similarly, during the next read cycle, the same address is transmitted from the terminal TRA to read out the test data of the memory unit MEM. As a result, the read test data is transmitted via the maintenance read mode circuit MR₂ to the data check circuit CHK, in which the read test data is compared with the test data stored in the input data buffer IB. If the two pieces of data are the same, the data check circuit CHK generates a coincidence signal which is transmitted to the terminal TC, thereby indicating that the test data is correctly written into an indicated area of the memory unit MEM. However, if the two pieces of data are different from each other, the data check circuit CHK generates no coincidence signal, thereby indicating that the write operation was incorrectly performed. Thus, the operation of the memory unit MEM is checked.

In FIG. 10, note that an output from the terminal TPC or TC is necessary when a parity check operation is performed or when the memory unit MEM is tested. But if such a parity check operation and a test operation are unnecessary, an output from the terminals TPC and TC is unnecessary.

The primary and secondary time switches and the hold memories of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 can also be constructed from the memory circuit of FIG. 9 or FIG. 10.

In FIG. 11, which is a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a common circuit SP/PS for serial-to-parallel conversion and parallel-to-serial conversion, route selectors SEL₁, SEL₂, and SEL₃, and a route selection mode switch circuit M₃ are connected to terminals TP₁ and TP₂ are added to the circuit MUC₁ of FIG. 5. That is, the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ of FIG. 2 and the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit PS₁ of FIG. 3 are constructed as a common circuit SP/PS.

Note that the configuration of such a circuit for serial-to-parallel conversion and parallel-to-serial conversion is well known.

The route selection mode switch M₃ and the route selectors SEL₁, SEL₂, and SEL₃ operate in accordance with the following table:

    ______________________________________                                         TP.sub.1  TP.sub.2                                                                              CL.sub.1     CL.sub.2                                                                            CL.sub.3                                    ______________________________________                                         "0"       "0"    "0"          "1"  "1"                                         "1"       "0"    "1"          "0"  "0"                                         "0"       "1"    "1"          "0"  "1"                                         "1"       "1"    "0"          "0"  "1"                                         ______________________________________                                    

In the above table, CL₁, CL₂, and CL₃ designate control signals for the route selectors SEL₁, SEL₂, and SEL₃, respectively. For example, if the control signal CL₁ is "1", the route selector SEL₁ selects the up route U₁ while if the control signal CL₁ is "0", the route selector SEL₁ selects the down route D₁.

When the data "0" is applied to both of the terminals TP₁ and TP₂, the control signals CL₁, CL₂, and CL₃ of the route selection mode switch circuit M₃ are "0", "1", and "1", respectively. Therefore, the route selector SEL₁ selects the down route D₁, and the route selectors SEL₂ and SEL₃ select the up routes U₂ and U₃, respectively. As a result, input data having 8 serial bits per each time slot from the terminal DI is transmitted via the input data buffer IB and the down route D₁ of the selector SEL₁ to the circuit SP/PS, in which a serial-to-parallel conversion operation is performed. This converted data is then transmitted via the up route U₂ of the route selector SEL₂ to the memory unit MEM. On the other hand, parallel data read out of the memory unit MEM is transmitted via the output data buffer OB and the up route U₃ of the route selector SEL₃ to the terminal DO. Thus, the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11 in the case where the data "0" is applied to both of the terminals TP₁ and TP₂ can be used as the speech path memory SPM₁ including the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ of FIG. 2.

When the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₂, the control signals CL₁, CL₂, and CL₃ of the route selection mode switch circuit M₃ are "0", "1", and "1", respectively, as indicated above. Therefore, the route selector SEL₁ selects the up route U₁, and the route selectors SEL₂ and SEL₃ select the down routes D₂ and D₃, respectively. As a result, input data having 8 parallel bits per each time slot from the terminal DI is transmitted via the input data buffer IB and the down route D₂ of the selector SEL₂ to the memory unit MEM. On the other hand, parallel data read out of the memory unit MEM is transmitted via the output data buffer OB and the up route U₁ of the route selector SEL₁ to the circuit SP/PS, in which a parallel-to-serial conversion operation is performed. This converted data is then transmitted via the down route D₃ of the route selector SEL₃ to the terminal DO. Thus, the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11, in the case where the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₂, can be used as the speech path memory SPM₂ including the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit SP₂ of FIG. 3.

When the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₂, the control signals CL₁ , CL₂, and CL₃ of the route selection mode switch circuit M₃ are "1", "0", and "1", respectively. Therefore, the route selectors SEL₁ and SEL₃ select the up routes D₁ and D₃, respectively, and the route selector SEL₂ selects the down route U₂. As a result, input data transmitted from the terminal DI cannot pass through the circuit SP/PS, and, accordingly, no serial-to-parallel conversion and no parallel-to-serial conversion is performed on the input data. That is, the input data is transmitted via the down route U₂ of the route selector SEL₂ to the memory unit MEM. On the other hand, data read from the memory unit MEM is transmitted via the output data buffer OB and the up route U₃ of the route selector SEL₃ to the terminal DO. In this case, the data is also transmitted via the up route U₂ to the circuit SP/PS. However, the signal converted by the circuit SP/PS is not transmitted to any elements.

Note that the case where the data "1" is applied to both of the terminals TP₁ and TP₂ corresponds to the case where the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₂. That is, no substantial serial-to-parallel or parallel-to-serial conversion is performed in either case. Thus, the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11, in the case where the data "0" or "1" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₂, can be used as the hold memories MH₁, MH₂, and MH₃·1 through MH₃·n of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

The primary time switch PTSW₁ of FIG. 2, the secondary time switch STSW₁ of FIG. 3, and the space switch SSW of FIG. 4 are constructed from the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11, and are explained below with reference to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14, respectively.

In FIG. 12, a primary time switch PTSW₁ ' includes the primary time switch PTSW₁ and the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ of FIG. 2. Two memory circuits MUC₂₁ and MUC₂₂ have the same configuration as the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11. In the memory circuit MUC₂₁, since the data "0" is applied to both of the terminals TP₁ and TP₂, the memory circuit MUC₂₁ serves as the speech path memory SPM₁ as well as the serial-to-parallel conversion circuit SP₁ of FIG. 2. On the other hand, in the memory circuit MUC₂₂, since the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₂, the circuit SP/PS does not affect the operation of the circuit MUC₂₂, and, accordingly, the memory circuit MUC₂₂ is the same as the memory circuit MUC₁₂ of FIG. 6, that is, the memory circuit MUC₂₂ serves as the hold memory HM₁ as well as the time slot counter T-CTR₁ of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 13, a secondary time switch STSW₁ ' includes the secondary time switch PTSW₁ and the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit PS₁ of FIG. 3. Two memory circuits MUC₂₃ and MUC₂₄ have the same configuration as the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11. In the memory circuit MUC₂₃, since the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₂, the memory circuit MUC₂₃ serves as the speech path memory SPM₂ as well as the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit PS₁ of FIG. 3. On the other hand, in the memory circuit MUC₂₄, since the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₂, the circuit SP/PS does not affect the operation of the circuit MUC₂₄, and, accordingly, the memory circuit MUC₂₄ is the same as the memory circuit MUC₁₄ of FIG. 7, that is, the memory circuit MUC₂₄ serves as the hold memory HM₂ as well as the time slot counter T-CTR₂ of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 14, memory circuits MUC₂₅·1 through MUC₂₅·n have the same configuration as the memory circuit MUC₄ of FIG. 11. In each of the memory circuits MUC₂₅·1 through MUC₂₅·n, since the data "0" is applied to the terminal TP₁ and the data "1" is applied to the terminal TP₂, the circuit SP/PS does not affect the operation of the circuits MUC₂₅·1 through MUC₂₅·n, of FIG. 14, and accordingly, the memory circuits MUC₂₅·1 through MUC₂₅·n are the same as the memory circuits MUC₁₅·1 through MUC₁₅·n of FIG. 8.

In FIGS. 5 through 14, a plurality of terminals TRA, a plurality of terminals DI, and a plurality of terminal DO are actually necessary for each memory circuit. However, only one of each of these terminals is illustrated for the sake of simplicity. 

We claim:
 1. A time-switch having read and write cycles and operatively connected to receive a control signal, for use in a primary time switch of a time-space-time network, the primary time switch having a primary speech path memory, a hold memory, operatively connected to the primary speech path memory, for generating a write address for random writing into the primary speech path memory, and a time slot counter, operatively connected to the primary speech path memory, for generating a read address for sequentially reading out of the primary speech path memory, said time switch circuit comprising:a first memory circuit including the primary speech path memory and the time slot counter; a second memory circuit operatively connected to said first memory circuit and including the hold memory; said first and second memory circuits having first and second address signals and having input and output terminals, respectively, said input terminals receiving input data, each of said first and second memory circuits comprising:a memory unit of q-words, q being an integer greater than or equal to one, and m-bits, m being an integer greater than or equal to one, for receiving and transmitting data; an address selector, having a selection mode operatively connected to said memory unit and said first and second memory circuits, for selecting one of the first and second address signals and transmitting it to said memory unit; an address buffer, operatively connected to said address selector, for receiving and providing the first address signal to said address selector; an m-ary counter, operatively connected to said address selector, for receiving and providing the second address signal to said address selector; address selection mode switching means, operatively connected to said address selector for controlling the selection mode of said address selector; write mode switching means having a write enable signal, operatively connected to said memory unit, for controlling the mode of generation of the write enable signal transmitted to said memory unit; an input data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the input data from the input terminal to said memory unit; and an output data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the input data from said memory unit to the output terminal; said output terminal of said second memory circuit being connected to said input terminal of said first memory circuit, said address selection mode switching means of said first and second memory circuits being controlled so that said address selector of each of said first and second memory circuits selects the first address signal during the write cycle and selects the second address signal during the read cycle, said write mode switching means of said first memory circuit being controlled to generate the write enable signal during every write cycle, said write mode switching means of said second memory circuit being controlled to generate the write enable signal only upon receipt of the control signal during the write cycle.
 2. A time-switch circuit having read and write cycles and operatively connected to receive a control signal, for use in a secondary time switch of a time-space-time network circuit, the secondary time switch including a secondary speech path memory, a time slot counter for generating a write address and sequentially writing and transmitting the write address to the secondary speech path memory, and a hold memory for generating a read address and random reading and transmitting the read address to the secondary speech path memory, said time switch circuit comprises:a first memory circuit including the secondary speech path memory and the time slot counter; a second memory circuit operatively connected to said first memory circuit and including the hold memory; each of said first and second memory circuits receiving first and second address signals and having input and output terminals having input data and output data, respectively, comprising:a memory unit having q-words, q being an integer greater than or equal to one, and m-bits, m being an integer greater than or equal to one, for receiving the first and second address signals and transmitting output data; an address selector having a selection mode, operatively connected to said memory unit, for receiving and selecting one of the first and second address signals and transmitting the selected one of the first and second address signals to said memory unit; an address buffer, operatively connected to said address selector, for receiving the first address signal and passing it therethrough; an m-ary counter, operatively connected to said address selector, for generating the second address signal; address selection mode switching means, operatively connected to said address selector, for controlling the selection mode of said address selector; write mode switching means having a write enable signal, operatively connected to said memory unit, for controlling the mode of generation of the write enable signal transmitted to said memory unit; an input data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the input data from said input terminal to said memory unit; and an output data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the output data from said memory unit to said output terminal; said output terminal of said second memory circuit being connected to said output terminal of said first memory circuit, said address selection mode switching means of said first memory circuit being controlled so that said address selector of said first memory circuit selects the second address signal during a write cycle and selects the first address signal during a read cycle, said write mode switching means of said first memory circuit being controlled to generate the write enable signal during every write cycle, said address selection mode switching means of said second memory circuit being controlled so that said address selector of said second memory circuit selects the first address signal during the write cycle and selects the second address signal during the read cycle, said write mode switching means of said second memory circuit being controlled to generate the write enable signal only upon receipt of the control signal during the write cycle.
 3. A time-switch circuit having write and read cycles and input and output terminals having input and output data, respectively, and operatively connected to receive a control signal, for use in a space switch of a time-space-time network, the space switch including a gate portion having gate switches, a plurality of hold memories, each hold memory generating a selection signal for indicating one of the gate switches, a plurality of time slot counters, each time slot counter generating a read address to the hold memories, and a plurality of memory circuits each including one of the hold memories and one of the time slot counters, each of said memory circuits comprising:a memory unit of q-words, q being an integer greater than or equal to one, and m-bits, m being an integer greater than or equal to one, for writing in and reading out data; an address buffer having an address terminal having first address signals, operatively connected to said memory unit, for receiving one of the first address signals of the address terminal and outputting the one of the first address signals to said memory unit; an m-ary counter, operatively connected to said address buffer, for generating a second address signal; an address selector having a selection mode, operatively connected to said address buffer, said m-ary counter and said memory unit, for selecting one of the first address signals and the second address signal and transmitting it to said memory unit; address selection mode switching means operatively connected to said address selector, for controlling the selection mode of said address selector; write mode switching means having a write enable signal, operatively connected to said memory unit, for controlling the mode of generation of the write enable signal transmitted to said memory unit; an input data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the input data from the input terminals to said memory unit; and an output data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the data read out of said memory unit to the output terminal; said output terminals of each of said memory circuits being connected to one of said gate switches, said address selection mode switching means of said memory circuits being controlled so that said address selector of each of said memory circuits selects one of the first address signals during the write cycle and selects the second address signal during the read cycle, said write mode switching means of each of said memory circuits being controlled to generate the write enable signal only upon receipt of the control signal during the write cycle.
 4. A time-switch circuit as set forth in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein each of said memory circuits further comprises a maintenance read mode switching means having a terminal operatively connected to receive the control signal and operatively connected to said input data buffer and said memory unit, for transmitting the data read out of said memory unit to said input data buffer upon receipt of the control signal from said terminal, said input data buffer serving as an input/output data buffer.
 5. A time-switch circuit as set forth in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein each of said memory circuits further comprises:a parity bit generator, operatively connected to said input data buffer and said memory unit, for generating a parity check bit in accordance with the output data of the input data buffer and transmitting it to said memory unit; and a parity bit check circuit, operatively connected to said output data buffer, for performing a parity bit check operation upon receipt of the output data by said output data buffer.
 6. A time-switch circuit as set forth in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein each of said memory circuits further comprises:a maintenance read mode circuit operatively connected to said memory unit and providing a read mode output data; and a data check circuit, operatively connected to said input data and said maintenance read mode circuit, for comparing the read mode output data of said maintenance read mode circuit with the output of said input data buffer and generating a coincidence signal in dependence upon the result of the comparison.
 7. A time-switch circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second memory circuits further comprises:a common circuit, operatively connected to said memory unit, for serial-to-parallel conversion and parallel-to-serial conversion; route-selecting means, operatively connected to said common circuit, said input data buffer, said output data buffer, and said memory unit, for selecting the route which the input data is to follow; and route-selection mode switching means, operatively connected to said route-selecting means, for controlling said route-selecting means; said route-selection mode switching means in said first memory circuit controlling said route-selecting means so that said common circuit is connected in series to said input data buffer, said route-selection mode switching means of said second memory circuit controlling said route-selecting means so that said common circuit does not affect the operation of said memory circuit.
 8. A time-switch circuit as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second memory circuits further comprises:a common circuit for serial-to-parallel conversion and parallel-to-series conversion; route-selecting means arranged, operatively connected to said common circuit, said input data buffer, said output data buffer and said memory unit, for selecting the route which the input data is to follow; and route-selection mode switching means, operatively connected to said route-selecting means, for controlling said route-selecting means; said route-selection mode switching means in said first memory circuit controlling said route-selecting means so that said common circuit is connected in series to said output data buffer, said route-selection mode switching means of said second memory circuit controlling said route-selecting means so that said common circuit does not affect the operation of said memory circuit.
 9. A time-switch circuit having read and write cycles and operatively connected to receive a control signal, for use in a primary time switch of a time-space-time network, said time switch circuit comprising:a first memory circuit comprising:a primary speech path memory; and a time slot counter having a read address, operatively connected to said primary speech path memory, for generating the read address and sequentially reading out of the primary speech path memory; a second memory circuit operatively connected to said first memory circuit, comprising: a hold memory having a write address, operatively connected to said speech path memory, for generating the write address and randomly writing into the primary speech path memory; said first and second memory circuits having first and second address signals and input and output terminals, respectively, said input terminals receiving input data, and said output terminal of said second memory circuit being connected to said input terminal of said first memory circuit, each of said first and second memory circuits comprising:a memory unit of q-words, q being an integer greater than or equal to one, and m-bits, m being an integer greater or equal to one, for receiving and transmitting data; an address selector having a selection mode, operatively connected to said memory unit and said first and second memory circuits, for selecting one of the first and second address signals and transmitting it to said memory units; an address buffer, operatively connected to said address selector, for receiving and providing the first address signal to said address selector; an m-ary counter, m being an integer greater than or equal to one, operatively connected to said address selector for receiving and providing the second address signal to said address selector; address selection mode switching means, operatively connected to said address selector, for controlling the selection mode of said address selector such that each of said first and second memory circuits selects the first address signal during the write cycle and selects the second address signal during the read cycle; write mode switching means, operatively connected to said memory unit, for generating the write enable signal transmitted to said memory unit, said write mode switching means of said first memory circuit being controlled to generate the write enable signal during every write cycle and said write mode switching means of said second memory circuit being controlled to generate the write enable signal only upon receipt of the control signal during the write cycle; an input data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit for transmitting the input data from the input terminal to said memory unit; and an output data buffer, operatively connected to said memory unit, for transmitting the input data from said memory unit to the output terminal. 